Canoe yoke



Marcb 1954 w. E. MASSICOTTE 2,671,231

CANOE YOKE Filed June 8. 1951 2 SheeG-Sheet 1 William E. Mass/aorta I INVENTOR.

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Marc 1954 w. E. MASSICOTTE 2,671 231 CANOE YOKE Filed June 8, 1951 E 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Will/amt. Mass/aorta 1N VEN TOR.

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w. *3. T. l I 3 yoke indicated generally by the numeral 20 together with a plurality of hand grip attachments which in their entirety are indicated generally by the numeral 22. As will be readily understood however in some instances it may be preferred to utilize the functions and services of the portage yoke independently of the hand grip attachments, or in other circumstances the independent use of the hand grip attachments may be preferred. In order to illustrate 'th'e 'manner in which the principles of this invention may be utilized to the fullest extent, the application of both of these elements to a conventional canoe has been illustrated and described hereinafter.

Referring first to Figure 5, it will be seen 4 in either the forward or rearward recess 42 at the convenience and desires of the carrier, which permits the yoke to be attached to various portions of the canoe whereby the neck of the carrier may be disposed in either the forward or rearward recess.

This construction further facilitates the use of the yoke in pairs or in even greater numbers, so that the canoe may be portaged by two or more persons if desi'redl'; f; "i i Referring now-again to Figure 5, it"will be seen that the two shoulder portions 26 are of identical construction, each consisting of a prefthat the canoe portage yoke -includes a rodlike, hinged or articulated skeletal framework construction.

This construction includes an' erably substantially rectangular rod like frame of which the previously mentioned side rods or side bars 32 of the H-shaped neck portion constitute one side. The opposite side of the shoulder portions consists of rods or bars 43 disposed H-shaped neck portion 24, to the opposite sides of which are hingedly connected shoulder portions 26. Fasteners, to be described hereinafter, are hingedly or pivotally connected to each of the shoulder portions and constitute a means whereby the latter and consequently th canoe yoke, may be removably secured to the gunwales of a canoe.

Referring first to the neck portion, it will be seen that the latter consists of rod lik members including a crossbar 0r cross-rod 28, terminating in loops or hooks 39 at its opposite ends, see Figure 8, which are pivoted and loosely and slidably embrace the side rods or side bar member 32 of the H-shaped neck portion. The H.-shap'e d neck portion is further provided with a pair of U-shaped or arcuat'e reinforcing rods 34 which have their midportions abutted against opposite sides of the crossbar 28,.and have their leg portions disposed alongside the side bars 32 and engaged at their extremities to the extremi tiesof the side bars as by the hooked connec tions 36, as shown in Figure 5. I

It is evident that the reinforcing'r'ods 3 4.may be securely attached to the cross-rod 23 invarious known manners. I In some instance it may be preferred to weld or otherwise rigidly secure these'.membersinto a permanent assembly. One suitable manner, illustrated in Figure '3 of the drawings, comprises the provision of a flexible:

fastening at -.this. point, comprising a winding 38 of a suitable "fiber orv wire material which is wound about eachof the reinforcing rods 34 and also about the'c'ross-rodl 28' .to securely attach these elements together but permit a limited relative swinging movement therebetween.

This framework of the H-shaped neck portion is preferably covered by a coating 40 of any suitable material such as webbing, lacing, canvas or the like. The purpose of this coating is both to enclose and protect the skeletal framework of the neckportion as well as to provide a cushioning pad which will render more comfortable engagement of the neck portion with the neck and shoulders of the user.

From Figure 1 it will be apparent that the neck portion is provided with arcuate recesses 42 disposed upon the opposite front and rear sides of the yoke. These recesses will comfortably encircle orembrace a portion of the neck of the user, to permit the shoulder portions ofthe yoke to rest comfortably upon the shoulders of the carrier. Once the device is attached to the canoe,

it is obvious that either end of the canoe may I be pointed forward and one'of the recesses 42 will receive the neck portion of the user. This construction also permits the neck tobedisp'osefd" in parallel relation to the rods 32, and forming the central portions of U-shaped members having parallel outwardly extending legs 44, The side member of the rectangular shoulder portions consist of integral, parallel side members At which are formed upon the ends of the rods 32, and at their extremities are pivotedas by hooks or eyelets 48 to the rods 43. Conveniently. a sleeve 50 may encircle each of the rods 43, and a somewhat similar sleeve 52 encircleseach of the rod 32. However, this sleeve 52 is provided with a notched or cut-away portion 54 at its midpoint to receive the above mentioned pivot hook 30 of the crossbar 28. The sleeve 52' thus serves to restrain the crossbar 28 to a midposition between the ends of the bars "32 while permitting swivelling movement therebetween as will be apparent from Figure 8.

As so far described, it will now be, apparent that the rectangular frames of the shoulder portions are pivoted to the H-shaped neck portion.

ends of the leg portions 5 3. Theother ends of the'bolts are threadedas at 62 to extend through suitable'apertures in the gunwales of the canoe, I

fastening nuts 64 serve to detachably retain the yok tightl v stretched across the canoe trans-. versely of the same and between the gunwales as shown in Figures 1 and 2. It is obviously intended that the yoke 'shall bestretched with sufficient tautness across the gunwales to sup-, f port the canoe with a ,minimum ,defl'ectiomof the yoke upon the shoulder'sof the wearer, and

thus. prevent uncomfortable impacts of thejbottom of thecano upon the head of the wearer,

From the foregoing it will-be readily seenthat. the yoke may be easily attached to or removed from the canoe completely, wherein in some, in stances it maybe preferred to merelydisengage the fasteners at one side of. the yoke and thus" permit the yoke to be compactly folded against one side of the'canoe when not in use. Suitable means may'ofcourse be provided for retaining, the collapsed yoke in 'itscompactlyfolded posi tion if desired,

In addition to the yoke construction previous-j.

ly descr ibed movable and adjustablehand grips attract are provided to facilitate the portaging of the canoe. Referring now more "specifically to-Figures' fi and'7, it will be seen-that these hand grips consist -'of four hand grip attachments, two being provided upon each gunwale on opposite sides of the yoke attached thereto. Each of these hand grip attachments consists of'a'short lever or handle fifimounted upon the top surface of the outer gunwale l2'and pivoted'thereto as by a: pivot pin 68 which maybe a bolt, rivet or the like. This-hand grip lever is thus mounted for pivoting movement upon the gunwale and may be selectively disposed in the position shown in Figure fi whereby the handle is retracted into an. out of the way position, or may be pivoted inwar'dly into a position extending transversely an'd laterally of the gunwale but inwardly of the boat into an operative position. A locking means is provided forselectively retaining the hand gripmembers in either'theirretracted or their operative positions. This locking means comprisesa bracket mounted-upon the inner gunwalemember I 6 as by fastening screws or the like 12, and having an upstanding portion i4 constituting a stop which is adapted to be engaged by the hand grip lever when the latter is in its operative position, and form a stop abutment for the same. The brackets further include an overhanging retaining terminal portion 76 which'is adapted to overlie the top surface of the lever in its operative position and further brace and reinforce the lever against the strains imparted thereto during the portaging of the canoe.

A locking pin is rotatably and slidably secured to thegunwale construction as by a fastening bracket 18 secured to the inner surface of the inner gunwale member below the upper edges thereof as by fastening bolts 80. This bracket includes a vertically disposed cylindrical bearing portion 82 through which is slidably and rotatably-received the axle portion 84 of the looking pin. One end of this axle below the bracket is preferably provided with a looped or eyed portion 86 constituting a hand grip by means of which the device may be manipulated, a compression spring 88 being disposed between this eye and between the bearing portion 82 as shown. This spring normally urges the axle downwardly through the bearing, to thus urge the inturned extremity 90 of the locking pin to a looking recess 92 forming the top surface of the hand grip member 66. It will thus be apparent that the spring 88 will retain the locking pin in the recess when the hand grip member is disposed in either its retracted or operative position as shown in Figures 6 and 7. Obviously, when it is desired to swing the handle 66 from its operative to its inoperative positions, or vice versa, the locking pin is released from the locking recess 92 and allowed to slide through the fastening bracket 18 until the inturned extremity 90 of the locking pin is disposed beneath the upper edge of the gunwale member 16.

From the foregoing, the construction and operation of the device will be readily understood and further explanation is believed to be unnecessary. However, since numerous modifications and changes will readily occur to those skilled in the art after a consideration of the foregoing specification and accompanying drawings, it is not desired to limit the invention to the exact construction shown and described, but all suitable modifications and equivalents may be 6. resorted to, falling within the' scope of "the ap pended claims.

Having describedthe invention, whatisclaimed asnew is: r

1. A canoe portage yoke comprisinga'flexible supporting frame, means for connecting said frame toth'e gunwales of a canoein a'positiont'o extenditrans'versely therebetween, saidframe'h'aving shoulder portions with-a reces'sedneck portiontherebetween'said shoulder portions being adapted to restupon the'shouldersfandthe neck portion=to embrace theneck of the carrier when a canoe is supported in inverted-position upon the shoulder of the carriensaid-neckportion having opposing arcuate-neck'encircling recesses.

2. Acanoe portage yoke comprising a flexible supporting frame, meansxfor connecting said frame tothe gunwales'ofa canoe in a position to extendtransversely therebetween, said frame having shoulder portions with a recessed "neck portion therebetween, said shoulder portions'being'adapted to rest upon the shoulders'an'd-th'e neck portion to embrace the neck of the carrier when a canoe is supported in inverted'position upon the shoulder of the carrier, said shoulder portions of said frame being hingedly connected to opposite ends of said neck portion.

3. A canoe portage yoke comprising a flexible supporting frame, means for connecting said frame to the gunwales of a canoe in ap'osition to extend transversely therebetween, said frame having shoulder portion with a recessed neck portion therebetween, said shoulder portions'being adapted to rest 'uponthe shoulders and the neck portion to embrace the neck of the carrier when a canoe is supported ininverted'p'osition upon the shoulderof the carrier, said shoulder portions of said frame beinghingedly connected to opposite ends of saidneck portion, each shoulder portion including a rectangular rod-like frame, a sheet-like covering secured upon said last mentioned frame.

4. A canoe portage yoke comprising'a flexible supporting frame, means for connecting said frame to the'gunwales 'of a canoe in aposition to extend transversely therebetween, said frame having shoulder portions with a recessed neck portion therebetween, said shoulder portions being adapted to rest upon the shoulders and the neck portion to embrace the neck of the carrier when a canoe is supported in inverted position upon the shoulder of the carrier, said shoulder portions of said frame being hingedly connected to opposite ends of said neck portion, said neck portion comprising an H-shaped rod-like member, arcuate reinforcing rods secured to each side of the cross rod of said member and to the parallel side rods thereof.

5. A canoe portage yoke comprising a flexible supporting frame, means for connecting said frame to the gunwales of a canoe in a position to extend transversely therebetween, said frame having shoulder portions with a recessed neck portion therebetween, said shoulder portions being adapted to rest upon the shoulders and the neck portion to embrace the neck of the carrier when a canoe is supported in inverted position upon the shoulder of the carrier, said shoulder portions of said frame being hingedly connected to opposite ends of said neck portion, said neck portion comprising an H-shaped rod-like member, arcuate reinforcing rods secured to each side of the cross rod of said member and to the parallel side rods thereof, retaining sleeves surrounding each of the side rods of the member and the djacen s e rqiq h a ia ent n u a frame for hingedly connecting the same.

6, canoe portage yoke comprising a flexible supporting frame, means for connecting said frame to the gunwales of a canoe in a position to extend transversely therebetween, said frame having shoulder portions with a recessed neck portion therebetween, said shoulder portions being adapted to rest upon the shoulders and the neck portion to embrace the neck of the carrier when a canoe is supported in inverted position upon the shoulder of the carrier, said shoulder portions of said frame including rectangular frames hingedly connected to opposite ends of said neck portion, said neck portion comprising an H-shaped rod-like member, arcuate reinforcing rods secured to each side of the cross rod of said member and to the parallel side rods thereof, retaining sleeves surrounding each of the side rods of the member and the adjacent side rod of the adjacent rectangular frame for hingedly connectingthe same, the cross rod of the member beingpivotally connected to the side rods thereof. 7. A canoe portage yoke comprising a flexible supporting frame, means for connecting said frame to the gunwales of a canoe in a position to extend transversely therebetween, said frame having shoulder portion with a recessed neck portion therebetween, said shoulder portions being adapted to rest upon the shoulders and the neck portion to embrace the neck of the carrier when a canoe is supported in inverted position upon the shoulder of the carrier, said shoulder portions of said frame including rectangular frames hingedly connected to opposite ends of said neck portion, said neck portion comprising an H-shaped rod-like member, arcuate reinforcing rods secured to each side of the cross rod of said member and to the parallel side rods thereof, retaining sleeves surrounding each of the side rods of the member and the adjacent side rod of the adjacent rectangular frame for hingedly connecting the same, the cross rod of the member being pivotally connected to the side rods thereof, said sleeves engaging the pivotal connection and preven in lo tud a isplacem t 1.11 9 9$ od-1. 2m ms e' q so in. co b na i n with. a canoe having wales thereon, means for portaging the canoe comprising hand grips swingably mounted upon said gunwales, lock means for selectively securing said hand grips against movement in positions extending laterally inwardly from the gunwales and parallel to the gunwales, said lock means ineludinga locking member slidably and rotatably mounted on the gunwale on an axis perpendicular to the plane of movement of the hand grips and retaining means on the locking member for positively engaging the hand grip in each of its positions. M v

9. The combination of claim 8, wherein each of said hand grips has a locking recess disposed therein. v

10.-T he combination of claim 9, wherein the locking member comprises a looped portion at one end and a hooked portion at the other end, said hooked portion having an intermediate section parallel to the plane of movement of the hand grip-andan end section perpendicular to the intermediary section, which end section is engageable in the locking recess in each of said hand grips.

11. The combination of claim 10, including resilient means provided on the locking member urging the locking member into engagement with each of said hand grips.

WILLIAM E. MASSICOTTE.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 247,827 Hunt et a1. Oct. 4, 1881 451,579 Rinfret Ma 5, 1891 1,257,073 Frank Feb. 19, 1918' 1,359,806 Holmstrom Nov. 23, 1920 1,637,305 Hendsch July 26, 1927 2,488,316 Mosby Nov, 15, 1949 2,608,693 Hansen Sept. 2, 1952 

